Picture container



Jan. 2, 1962 G. MULLER 3,015,179

PICTURE CONTAINER Filed Aug. 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. 958020 Mauve/e 4T TOPA/EY Jan. 2, 1962 G. MULLER 3,015,179

PICTURE CONTAINER Filed Aug. 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 9 GEE/9RD Mum 15/2 i (m gm N 7 0 /0 QTTOPA/EY I N VEN TOR.

3,015,179 PICTURE (IONTAINER Gerard Muller, Bethel, Conn., assignor to Cartier, Inc., New Yorlr, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 49,197 2 Claims. (Ci. 40-1521) This invention is a picture container adapted to be carried in a ladys pocketbok or purse or in a gentlemans pocket.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a picture frame wherein the picture therein is protected against damage by normally concealing the same within a rigid outer metal casing from which it may be Withdrawn into view when desired without releasing it from said casing.

The invention is characterized by an outer casing, through one end of which a picture frame slide may be slid, after the manner of a drawer, into positions to conceal or expose the picture in the frame.

An important feature of this invention is that the picture frame slide is provided at one end with a rider or foliower to which the frame slide is pivoted. This rider moves with the frame slide Within guides in the outer casing and engages limiting stops when said slide is completely withdrawn. In this position the slide is precluded from detachment from the casing, but may be pivotally moved into a position wherein the casing and slide may collectively function as an easel.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and appended claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a face view of the container in normally closed position.

FIG. 2 is an edge view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the picture frame slide partially withdrawn from the outer casing and with the rear closed end of the casing cut away to show the cross sectional shape of said casing.

FIG. 4 shows, in perspective, the slide and follower detached from one another.

FIG. 5 shows them assembled.

FIG. 6 is an edge view of the structure shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows the entire construction when used as an easel.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the outer casing. It is of substantiallyrectangular form and has a like exterior cross section. It is closed at its top and bottom, at both sides, and at its rear end. It has interior lands 2 which extend for the full length of the casing and form guides for the picture frame slide 3. This slide is so constituted that it may slide, after the manner of a drawer, into and out of the open end of the casing 1. It is provided in at elast one of its faces with a picture opening 4 and while its other face is shown as being solid and without such picture opening, it also may have such an opening if desired.

The front end of the slide 3 is closed and boxed in, as shown at 5, and the outer casing is cut away or reentrant, as shown at 6, so that, when the slide is in closed position, the boxed end in the slide will be received within the reentr-ant portion 6 of the casing. The rear end of the duced into the frame a picture with or without a sheet of States Patent Q ice transparency, such as glass or plastic over the face thereof. If both sides of the slide are provided with openings 4, pictures may be positioned therein back to back with the transparency over the face of each picture.

Positioned adjacent the rear end of the picture slide are alined pivots 8 which extend in coaxial relation from the opposite side walls of the slide. These pivots extend through forwardly projecting arms 9 of a rider or follower it), as shown best in FIGS. 5 and 6. This rider moves with the slide frame as the latter is slid into and out of the casing. However, the rider is provided with small projections 11 which extend laterally and, when the slide frame reaches its outermost position, these projections engage inturned lips at the forward end of the side walls of the casing and thus serve to retain the rider within the casing, so that the slide frame cannot be detached therefrom. However, when the frame slide is in its outermost position, the pivotal engagement between it and the rider will permit my structure to be used as an easel after the manner shown in 'FIG. 7.

The structure shown in the accompanying drawings may be made of relatively small size, the: most convenient size for the use stated being about the size of a book match. All mechanical parts of the structure are metallic and in practice are generally constructed of platinum, gold or silver, or some other precious metal, so that the device is, in effect, an article of jewelry. It may, if desired, be decorated With gems or precious stones, although this is, of course, optional.

The picture or pictures within the frame may be changed at will. They are inserted or removed from the slide frame while the parts are in the relation shown in FIG. 7 for in this relation the open end 7 of the frame is exposed for this purpose.

The foregoing detailed dscription sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

In referring to the forward end of the slide as boxed in, I mean that the outer end portion of the slide has top, bottom, end and side walls to form a box-like enclosure, one side of which is open to the interior of the slide and in which enclosure the corresponding end portion of the picture is adapted to be housed.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A picture container comprising an outer casing open at its forward end and closed at its rear end, a picture slide frame movable through the open end of said casing after the manner of a drawer from a closed position within the casing to an exposed position exteriorly of the casing, a follower pivoted to the inner end of the slide and movable therewith, and stop means on the follower and casing for precluding inadvertent separation of the slide frame and casing.

2. A picture container according to claim 1, wherein the outer end of the slide frame has a superimposed narrow top wall forming a pocket to receive the corresponding end portion of a picture, the top wall of the casing being provided with a re-entrant portion at its free end to receive said narrow top wall when the slide frame is in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,606,849 Spear Nov. 16, 1926 2,535,265 Caifrey Dec. 26, 1950 2,572,735 Kugel Oct. 23, 1951 

